Brief Biographies of Magic Inventors - Page Q
- R - S

Qua-Fiki
(1995 - )
Born Al-Quadir Marsh in Newark, NJ, Qua-Fiki joined the
Wiz Kids in January of 2008 and started on his career as
a magician. He is the grandson of Phineas Spellbinder,
nephew to Wiz Kid Director Frederick Goode,
and cousin to Wiz Kids Eleazar
Goodenough and Wilhelmina
Goodenough. His step father is Wiz Kid Lee,
so magic is definitely in his environment, if not his
blood. He is currently working on escapes as his Wiz Kid
specialty. He is also working on three more magic books;
"Super Hero Magic", "Storybook
Magic,"and "Escapes For Teens" (for 2011
publication). In 2013 at age 18, he became a trustee of
The Wiz Kids, Inc. In 2014 he started his own troupe of
Wiz Kids in Newark, NJ.

Racherbaumer,Jon
(1940- )
His early years were spent in Elmhurst, Illinois (Harlan Tarbell's
hometown), a western suburb of Chicago. His interest in
magic was began in 1950, from seeing Dr. Tarbell perform.
Then he received his first magic book, Tarbell Course
in Magic - Volume 1, on his eleventh birthday.
After discovering that Dr. Tarbell had donated his entire
course to the local library, Jon spent many hours
studying each volume, along with many other magic books
in the library.
He joined the IBM and the SAM in 1966, is a member of the
Order of Merlin, and a Lifetime Member of the Magic
Castle. He is currently the Associate Editor of Richard
Kaufman's Genii magazine. Prior to accepting
this post, he contributed to numerous other magazines.

Rae,
Oswald
(1892 - 1967)
An English magician from Reading, Berkshire, he performed
magic for the British troops in 1919. In 1923, he became
a vaudeville magician, performing The Holdup Trick, the
Silk to Match Box, the Pip Card, Inkbottle and Turnip,
and many others.

Raeke, Wayne
( c. 1933 - 1998)
Born James W. Raeke, Wayne Raeke was a member of the
Baltimore, Maryland Yogi Magic club and part of the
Baltimore magic scene through the 60's & 70's. He was
a barber by trade, and did magic as a hobby, with the
occasional show here and there. He was always working on
new effects and routines.

In 1970 he was the manager of The Jokers Wild Magic Shop
on Kenwood Ave. in the White Marsh area. The shop moved
to Belair Road in 1972 and lasted until 1976. When the
shop closed, Wayne moved to Houston, Texas and started a
youth magic group, The Jokers Wild Junior Club.
About that time his health started to fail and he ended
up with diabetes and in a wheel chair.

While he worked on and routined quite a number of magical
effects for his students, the only thing that he really
is known for was his Anytime, Anywhere, Linking Ropes,
originally dated 1965, and then reprinted and republished
in 1981 in its current form with Bill Palmer's editor's
notes and illustrations.

His contribution to magic is
based on an obscure knot, known as the "Running
Knot" and found in the 1919 Boy Scout Manual. It is
of little use to anyone, but Wayne recognized its
importance to the Linking Rope Routine that he was
working on. Anyone who has tried it is amazed that he
even discovered this use for such an obscure knot.

Some inventors, like U.F.
Grant, churn out a new trick practically
every day. Others, like Wayne Raeke, produce one effect
per lifetime. All enrich the art of magic and are worthy
of recognition for their efforts.

Thanks to Marty Grams for providing the basic
information, and to Bill Palmer for providing additional
information used in the above biography.

C. James Rainho was born in Portugual, but
immigrated to the United States as a child. He began his
interest in magic at the age of 10, and his interest in
playing country western music on the guitar at about the
same time. Both music and magic have been a part of his
life ever since.

Invented: Electronic Production Candles, Flame of Kan-Del
(1955), Fountain of Silks with Candle Production,
Fountain of Silks with Dove Production, Color Changing
Records, Tied at the Stake Illusion rope tie, and many
more.

Rice, Harold R.
(1912 - 1981 )
Born Harold Randolph Rice in Salineville, Ohio, his
interest in magic came from seeing performances of S. S. Henry,
who was playing one of the vaudeville circuits. Young
Harold saw shows free in return for feeding Henry's pet
goat, which vanished from a box twice each day.
Rice attended the University of Cincinnati as an art
major and soon was designing and creating his own silks
for a magical silk act. Silk King Studios was created in
1929 when local magicians persuaded Rice to make silk
squares for them.
Rice made monthly contributions to the Linking Ring from
1932 to 1940, and then began publishing his collections
of silk magic effects in small books. The first volume of
Rice's
Encyclopedia of Silk Magic was published in 1948
and contains many of his own silk magic inventions.

Wrote: Close Up Comedy Card Effects,
Super Power Memory System, Superfast Card Magic For
Beginners, Jazz With Cards, New Style Card Magic, The
Complete Comedy Technique Course, The Psychic Course, How
to be a Top Class Close Up Magician.

Robert-Houdin,
Jean Eugene (1805-1871)
Born Jean-Eugene Robert in Blois, France. Soon
after his marriage to Cecile Houdin in 1830, he
adopted 'Robert-Houdin' as his stage name and had
it legalized on 10th September 1856.
Apprenticed as a watchmaker in Blois, he learned
magic c1827 from an accidental purchase of the
2-volume 1792 edition of the Dictionnarie
Encyclopedie des Amusements des Sciences,
Mathematiques et Physiques, which included
tricks copied from Ozanam, Guyot, Decremps, Pinetti,
etc.
A prolific inventor, including The Orange Tree
(1845), Light and Heavy Chest (1845), Shower of
Plumes (1845), Le carton fantastique (1848),
Aerial (Broom) Suspension (1849), Diavolo Antonio
(1849), and possibly both silent code (1849) and
Stop Trick.

Romhany, Paul
(1968 - )
New Zealand born Paul Romhany began a career as a
musician, earning a dregee in music from Auckland
University. When he developed an interest in magic, it
was as a form of theatre, not just for fooling the
senses. He developed a theatrical impersonation of
Charlie Chaplin and used magic to develop comedy
situations for the character. http://youtu.be/ak1jlJjPRFo
He has traveled the world entertaining on cruise ships,
as well as performing in theatres and on television.

Roterberg,
August
(1867-1928)
Born in Hamburg, Germany. Moved to USA. Pro dealer in
Chicago (A. Roterberg, at 145 Illinois Street) by 1894 to
1916, selling his mail order business in 1908 to Ralph W.
Read and his shop to Arthur & Carl Felsman in 1916.
Invented Multiplying Thimbles (The eight thimbles on two
hands version) and Multiplying Billiard Balls (Excelsior
Ball Trick 1898).
Wrote: New Era Card Tricks (1897), Card
Tricks and How To Do Them (1902), Latter Day
Tricks (1896), The Modern Wizard (1896)
Media: August Roterberg (CD - contains copies of all his
written works above).

Roy, Marvyn
(1925- )
Marvyn Roy and Carol with their act, Mr.
Electric, appeared at Radio City Music Hall, the
London Palladium, The Latin Quarter ice shows,
floor shows, night clubs, theatres, arenas and
amusement parks. With their acclaimed light bulb
act, and later as the Diamond Illusionist, they
traveled for years with the Liberace show.
Born Marvin A. Levy, he first learned magic in
the 1930's from a Mysto Magic set. In 1939, as
"Marvin, The Magic Silk Merchant" he
won an award at the PCAM convention in San
Francisco. In 1956, he married Carol Williams, a
rope spinning ice skater, and together they
developed the new electric act: "Artisty in
Light with Marvyn Roy & Carol." Inspired
by Horace
Goldin's Canary in
the Light Bulb, Marvyn designed a new illusion
Girl in Light Bulb.
Wrote: Mr. Electric Unplugged (2005)

Sands, George
(1920 - 2006)George Sands began working in magic at the
age of 17 and soon was working as a demonstrator for
Tannen's Magic Store in New York City. During World War
II, he began entertaining his fellow soldiers with magic,
and that was where his "Sandsational Rope"
routine was created.

His son, Alan Sands, continues to sell
his father's books and videos, as well as his own on THIS WEB SITE.

Scarne, John(1903-1985)
Born Orlando Carmelo Scarnecchia, he was a recognized
expert of gambling cons and cheats. His passion was the
demonstration of card tricks. In 1938, he was selected as
one of the 10 living Stars of Cards (beside among others,
Leipzig,
Rosini, Cardini, Vernon).
Scarne met Harry
Houdini and became a personal friend. But
Scarne backed off magic tricks after taking a huge
splinter into his foot while jumping off a bridge -- tied
up and in chains like Houdini, of course!
He wrote a booklet called Scarne on Dice to help
servicemen understand how to avoid dice cheats.
Invented the board game Teeko.
Wrote: Scarne on Dice, Scarne on Card Tricks
(1950), The Amazing World of John Scarne (1956)
and many books on gambling and games.

Scot, Reginald,
(1538-1590)
Scot was a Justice of the Peace in Kent, England. In
1584, he wrote one of the first explanitory magic books
"Discoverie
of Witchcraft." Scotīs work was intended as an
argument against the existence of witches, and a protest
to the rising tide of persecution that was occuring in
England in the 1500's. Scot was guided in writing the
sections of the book dealing with legerdemain by John
Cautares, a 16th century French sleight-of-hand artist
who made his living as a laborer and resided in London.
The sections devoted to magic tricks contain valid
explanations of many effects still performed today, but
include very little instruction on the handling of the
sleights.
Among the many techniques and gimmicks
"discovered" are: magiciansī wax, double-sided
coins, various finger palms, classic palming, coin
shells, the classic force, lapping, loading for cups and
balls, threads, false shuffling, second dealing,
confederacy, "bar bets" (as they would be
called today), mentalism including a simple second
sight-style code, false bottomed boxes, paddle tricks,
the double-tape (grandmotherīs necklace) principle, a
four hundred year old sophisticated version of the
"magic coloring book" invented by a man named
Clovis, and much more.

Selbit,
P. T.
(1881-1938)
Born in Hampstead, London and named Percy Thomas
Tibbles he learned magic c1895. He became a
professional illusionist c1900. Aka 'Joad-Heteb'
and 'Joad Heteb, the Wizard of the Sphinx' he
performed a pseudo-Egyptian act 1902-08. It was
as Joad Heteb that he first introduced his
Traveling Blocks or Egyptian Bricks, the
precursor of Cube a Libre. By spelling his last
name backwards and dropping one of the
"b's" he transformed himself into P.T.
Selbit when he "hit the big time."
Selbit was a prolific inventor of illusions,
including Wrestling Cheese (1912), Walking
through a Wall (1914), Sawing through a Woman
(1921), Girl without a Middle (1924), Through the
Eye of a Needle (1924), and possibly Siberian
Chain Escape. Also: Stretching a Girl, Avoiding
the Crush,
Wrote: The Magician's Handbook (1901)

Shaxon, Alan
(1933- )
Born Alan Arthur Howson in Harrow, England, Alan Shaxon
is a professional magician and a former president of The
Magic Circle. He specialises in cabaret performances and
is billed as one of England's foremost magicians. The
Magic Circle gave Shaxon its highest award, "The
Maskelyne", for services to British Magic. His
television appearances have been seen by millions. He has
cruised the world in cabaret on the finest luxury liners,
and entertained on four occasions at Buckingham Palace.
Shaxon taught Tom Cruise the sleight of hand for
"Mission Impossible", and appeared in Rowan
Atkinson's "Mr. Bean".

Shimomura,Tomoyuki
(?-?)
Tomoyuki Shimomura is one of a new wave of magic creators
on the Tenyo
Magic Company team. His forte is producing effects that
are entertaining but which also have an interesting story
line. With his knowledge of close-up magic, he was
commissioned to write for An Introduction To Card
Magic. He is a polished technical writer and
therefore invaluable to Tenyo for the instruction sheets
included with the products.
Shimomura's inventions manufactured by Tenyo: Hyper
Vision (1989), Moon Spinner (1990), Wild Wallet (1991),
The Nostradanus Clock (1991), The Haunting (1992),
Crystal Pyramid (1994), Eye of the Idol (1995), Phantoma
(1996), The Unusal Suspects (1996), Bird Watcher (1997),
Pop-Up Card (1998), Lucky Rabbit (1999), Grand Derby
Prediction (1999), Wild Wallet - Leather (1999), Dynamite
Tube (2000), Mystery China Box (2001).

Skinner, Michael
(1947, 1998)
A close-up magician who grew up in Rochester, New York
and studied under Eddie Fechter from Buffalo. He later
moved to Hollywood and spent eight years at the Magic
Castle studying with Dai Vernon. For over 20 years, he
was the magician in residence at the Golden Nugget in Las
Vegas, Nevada.

Slyter, Clarence
(1900 - 1980)
American magician from Washington State, Slyter was well
known as a vaudeville performer, performing a "drunk
act" called "A Magician's Night Out" and
which featured appearing and disappearing shot glasses of
liquor, steins of beer, balloons, bubbles, etc. He first
came into magical note at a PCAM convention in Seattle in
1933 and performed at the SAM convention in 1940. He was
the inventor of a version of Multiplying Candles in which
the candles are connected together by hinges hidden by
finger tips. It is thought to have been the inspiration
for Earl Morgan's
multiplying candles. He died after a long illness at a
Rest Home in Petaluma, CA, on Nov. 20th, 1980, and was
buried in Tacoma, WA.

Soo,Chung
Ling
(1861 - 1918)
Born William Ellsworth Campbell, he changed his
last name to Robinson when he started his magic
career. A challenge by the famous Chinese
Illusionist Ching
Ling Foo, to duplicate his bowl of
water production for a prize of $1000, was
responsible for Robinson (who met the challenge
but was never paid) changing to Chung Ling Soo
and performing a Chinese-style act. In 1905,
there was a bitter rivalry (or was it all made up
for the publicity?) between Soo and Foo.
Soo's most famous trick was the Bullet Catch. The
trick went wrong when Soo was performing in the
Wood Green Empire, London, on March 23, 1918.
Some of the gunpowder exploded in the live
chamber, setting off the loaded bullet which hit
Soo in the chest.
Invented: Small Coin Box, Fish Catching,
Incredible Archery Illusion, Birth of a Pearl, A
Gem From Bagdad, Mahatma

Spreer,
Edmund
(1902-1983)
Born Johannes Edmund Spreer in Germany, Edmund became
interested in magic at thge age of 14. In 1926, he toured
Latin America with The Great Raymond as a show mechanic.
In 1928, he began his lifelong association with David Bamberg
(Fu Manchu) working as chief mechanic and first
assistant. He created many of the illusions, not only for
the Fu Manchu show, but for other famous magicians of his
era.
In collaboration with David Bamberg, invented the Isis
Illusion (variation of Chung
Ling Soo's Mahatma Illusion), The Chinese
Strangulation Rack, Variation on the Book of Life
Illusion, The "Little Stinkhouse", Fu Manchu
Cremation, Modified Triangle Illusion, Fu Manchu Spirit
Cabinet, Canvas Covered Trunk Substitution, The Monkey
Cage (Gorilla Vanish), The Robot, The Pit and the
Pendulum, The Fan Illusion, The Chinese Bazaar, The
Geisha Illusion, Fu Manchu Duck Vanish, The Lantern
Illusion (Atomic Woman).

Inventions include, Harvey And
the Soldier, Man In The Moon, Stop Light and many more.

Stanyon, Ellis
(1870-1951)
Born in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire, England. At
the age of 12, on seeing a magician at school do the
Die-thru-Hat, Stanyon puzzled it out and duplicated it.
Learned c1883 readingHoffmann's
Modern Magic. Introduced Paper Folding as a
stage act by 1895.
Magic was a monthly magazine produced and edited by
Ellis Stanyon. It was first published in October 1900 and
ran for 177 issues with a break during the 1914 -18 war
and the final issue was published in June 1920.
Ellis Stanyon was a noted magic dealer, author and
publisher and in the first issue of Magic he set out his
intention which was to popularise the Art of
Sleight of Hand. He is credited with inventing the Back
Palm., The Stanyon Silver Dollar Box, Crystal Silk
Cylinder, Flash Silk Gimmick, Flash Pull,
Wrote: Magic (1901), Bibliography of
Conjuring and Kindred Arts (1899), Conjuring for
Amateurs and Professionals (1897), Conjuring
with Cards (1898), Hand Shadows (1898), Flashes
of Fun (1897), Paper-Folding (1895), New
Coin Tricks (1899), Fire And Chemical Magic
( 3 series, from 1906- 1909), Great Handcuff Tricks, Great
Paper & String Tricks (1904), New Billiard
Ball Sleights (1904), New Handkerchief Tricks
(1900), New Card Tricks (in Four Series, from
1900 - 1910) and many more.

Steinmeyer, Jim
(1958 - )
Jim Steinmeyer was born in 1958 and grew up in Oak Park,
Illinois, just outside of Chicago. His brother, Harry,
was interested in magic and when his brother lost
interest, Jim took up where his brother left off. Jim was
graduated in 1980 from Loyola University of Chicago, with
a major in communications. It was while he was attending
Loyola that he contacted Doug Henning and began designing
illusions for him. Jim currently lives in California.

Wrote: The Complete Jarrett (1981), Hiding
the Elephant (2003), Impuzzabilities and Further
Impuzzabilities, The Magic of Alan Wakling
(1993), Art & Atrifice (1998), Device
and Illusion (1991), Strange Power (1992), Modern
Art (1995) The Howard Thurston Workbooks -
Volumes 1 and 2, The Science Behind the Ghost
(1999), The Conjuring Anthology, The
Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson (2005),
Charles Fort: The Man Who Invented the Supernatural (coming
in 2008), and many others.

Sterling, Harold
( )
Born Harold E. Fackler, he performed as a magician on the
Redpath Chautauqua Circuit with his wife, Gloria under
the name of The Sterlings. He opened the Sterling Magic
Company in Detroit, Michigan.
Invented: Bang Gun, The Silk Winder, Pop Silks, The
Sterling Egg Bag, Miko ( 3 and one half of spades) (1943)
named in honor of magician Milt Kort.

Wrote: Thelmo's First Book of Magic (1929), Fifty
Tricks with a Bottomless Tumbler (1950)

Sterling,Max (1870-1941)
Born J. MacLachlan, Max Sterling who had moved to
Cullompton near Exeter, Devon, UK to become a chicken
farmer, claimed to have originated the egg-on-fan trick.
The specially prepared egg required for this effect is
still today referred to as the Sterling Egg. He was
invited to become the first President of The Exonian
Magical Society. Max, who had played the halls over a
long period, including Maskelynes at St. George's Hall,
accepted the honor but resigned a few months later
because he disagreed with the proposed rule of secrecy
which, in his view, prevented him from discussing his
magical effects and thoughts with 'my numerous
international magical friends.'
Sterling's weekly paper "The Magical World" (c
1910- 1911) often carried bits by his friend Servais LeRoy,
among others.
Wrote: Problems in Mystery (1909)

Stern, Duke
(1913 - 1973)
Maxwell Phillip Stern was born in Trenton, NJ and became
interested in magic about the age of 5, but was
performinjg shows by the age of 12. When he started
demonstrating magic as a young man, he was klnown to his
friends as "Duke." He became a manager of
Abbott's Magic Company in Indianapolis (1946), and was
responsible for organizing the Abbott Get-Togethers,
often teaming up to perform with the Abbott Manager from
Detroit, Karrell Fox.
He was also a talented violinist.

Duke was the inventor of many original effects such as
The Almost Ten Count , Duke's Thimble , Duke's Copper and
Silver Coin Routine, and Duke's Guatemala Rope Trick. One
of his best known and most popular effects was Duke's
Dye-Version, described in Mark Trimble's Volume Four
Encyclopedia of Silk Magic and still on the market
today.

Stillwell,George
Edwin
(1874 - 1934)
Invented the Stillwell Ball (c 1887) (gimmick) used in
silk and handkerchief magic. The basic principle of the
thumb loop is also used for many other devices today.
Wrote: Stillwell's Handkerchief Manipulation Act (1902)

Stodare,
Colonel Joseph
(1832-1866)
Born Jack Inglis in Scotland, Colonel Stodare (or
Stodartt) was among the most noted performers in
England until his sudden death at the age of 35.
In 1865, he demonstrated the Sphinx Illusion
(drawing at right) which had been recently
invented by Thomas
William Tobin (the first use of this
principle of concealment). The illusion created a
sensation and Stodare was invited to give a
command performance to the oldest daughter of
queen Victoria. In that same year, he contracted
Tuberculosis and in October of 1866, he died.
After his death, his brother Alfred Inglis began
performing under the name Stodare.
Another illusion Stodare made popular was the
Indian Basket, using the Tip-Over Trunk
principle. Also invented: Vanishing Glass of
Water, The Egg and Handkerchief (Silk to Egg),
and many more.
Wrote: Stodare's Fly Notes, or Magic Made
Easy (1865).

Sudbrack, Ted
- "Suds"( )
Ted Sudbrack performs professionally under the name of
"Suds." Suds is a Past President and lifetime
member of the Orange County Magic Club, a past president
of the PCAM and a lifetime member of Ring 21, Hollywood,
CA. He is also inventor of The Bumper Bag, aka
"What's New?" a form of Blendo, and many sight
gags for clowns and magicians.

Suzuki,Toru
(?-?)
Toru Suzuki created what is considered one of the most
famous and popular Tenyo
Magic Company tricks of all time - "Crystal
Cleaver". His visual magic is very creative His most
recent Tenyo creation is "Salt Cups."

Swan, Parker
(1923 -2013 )
Charles Parker Swan performed with his wife, Claire, as
the comedy team of "Parker Swan and Claire."
Their acts included "Prunes of all Nations",
"Fruits I have Worked With," and his lecture
"How to Force a Watermelon."

Invented: Card in Watermelon, Parker Swan Dollhouse
Production

Wrote: (Lecture notes) How to Force a
Watermelon (1973)

Swoger, James
(1918 -2006)
James Wesley Swoger was born in Pittsburgh, PA. He became
interested in magic at the age of five and gave his first
show at the age of eight. He opened his first magic store
(managed by his mother) in 1937. Manager and owner of
Regows Magic Studio in Pittsburgh, PA (Spell Regows
backwards!). He renamed the business "James Swoger
House of Enchantment" circa 1968.
Invented: Blushing Nickle, Sparkle-Lite Production Tube,
Mental Stamp, Mental 13, Swoger Coin Box, Spider Beside
Her, 7th Wonder Card Box, Digitelephathy, Enchanted
Confections, Keni Key, Mental Slate, Skeleton In The
Closet, Sliding Glue, Sphinx Production Box, Stage Size
Chineese Gong, Topsy Turvy Drink, Tricky Bottles and many
more.

Born Charles Edgar Silber, Jr. of
Cincinatti, Ohio. He began his career as an actor, and
had appeared in more than 70 movies by the time of his
death. He moved to California in the 1950's and opened The
Magic House of Charles, first on Hollywood
Boulevard, and later moved it to the Mission Inn Hotel in
Riverside, CA. He was performing a magic trick for a
customer in his shop when he suddenly passed away at the
age of 70. His main claim to fame as a magician was
inventing Charles' Out of My Hat (1942) in which
a rabbit hand puppet appeared in a magician's top hat and
performed a variety of magic tricks.

For his cartoon magic character Sylvester the
Jester, Dan Sylvester has invented the bottomless hat,
elongated pencil up the nose, cartoon binoculars,
stretching tongue, popping eyes, steam from ears, Makin'
Sparks, Suspended Dimension, and many more effects.